(4)...The Jungle of Maths

First of all, the nine Numbers living in the hut had a big fight early in the morning. Nine hit Eight, then Eight bit Seven, then Seven smacked Six, and of course Six tripped Five. Five banged the heads of Three and Four together and they went and tortured Two. So Two became so angry that he went and twisted One’s arm and pulled his ear. One went to Eight and Nine, but they kicked him away. Seven and Six laughed at him and told him to do the housework. The others screamed at him to get breakfast for them and stop howling. The Little One was so sad and miserable, that he walked out of the house and went and sat in the little patch of sunlight and wept.

The second thing that happened was that around the same time Ari-the-Metic Fairy found the patch of sunlight. You see, she was going about her work as always, looking for small places to clean up. She was attracted by the patch of sunlight and the small tumble-down hut covered with creepers. So Ari-the-Metic flew down and hid near some flowers growing close to the patch of sunlight, wondering where to begin.

Then suddenly she jumped almost out of her skin! There was the Little One sitting alone in the patch of sunlight, crying bitterly. Ari-the-Metic was shocked. If any of the giants heard this little one, they would come and gobble him up in no time! At once she stepped out and stood in front of the Little One.

“What is the matter, Little One?” she asked.

The Little One jumped up in fright. He was amazed to see a beautiful blue fairy instead of the dreaded giants.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am Ari, a small fairy !” Ari-the-Metic replied. “I have come to do what I can to clean up this jungle.”

“Do you eat up small Numbers?” asked the Little One, still scared.

“Oh no,” laughed the fairy, “I help the Numbers to grow and play with each other! Now tell me why you are so unhappy.”

So the Little One told her about his brothers and sisters and their unkindness to him.

“Sometimes I feel that it would be better to be eaten up by one of the giants rather than go on living like this,” he sobbed.

“Shhhh,” said Ari-the-Metic, “don’t even think of such a thing. I am here to help you! I have got a magic ball for you which will give you a lot of power!”

She took out a small golden ball from her pocket and showed it to the Little One.

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